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119-hr-10425119th Congress

Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

Introduced

Summary

Restore and strengthen core EPA air protections. This bill would reinstate key pre-2025 pollution rules and require stronger science, enforcement, and environmental justice standards.

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  • Families and communities: Requires public health impact assessments, cumulative impacts analysis, and restoration of environmental justice programs with prioritization of overburdened areas, plus annual reporting on pollution and health disparities.
  • Polluting industries and vehicles: Reinstates limits and monitoring for power plants, oil and gas methane and VOC controls, mercury and air toxics, vehicle greenhouse gas standards, and the greenhouse gas reporting program, so regulated sources face restored standards and reporting obligations.
  • States, enforcement, and courts: Sets a minimum enforcement floor, requires annual enforcement reports to Congress, creates a private right of action for people harmed by noncompliance, preserves state authority to set stronger limits, and authorizes funding to support enforcement.

*Would authorize about $11.0 billion in appropriations for enforcement, increasing federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More EPA enforcement money and tools

This bill would authorize about $11 billion for the EPA for fiscal year 2027 and each year after, adjusted for inflation, to support enforcement and related duties. It would require an annual report to Congress on inspections, violations, penalties, and corrective actions. The bill would also create a private federal right to sue if a person is harmed by the EPA Administrator's failure to comply, and courts could order compliance and award reasonable attorney's fees. Actual funding would still require approval through the regular appropriations process.

Restore scientific review and carbon value

This bill would require EPA to reconstitute its Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee within 45 days with members free of financial or advisory ties to regulated industries. It would also require EPA to use peer-reviewed science in decisions and to restore the social cost of carbon to $190 per metric ton (2020 dollars) with a 2% discount rate within 60 days. If enacted, these changes would raise the measured benefits of greenhouse-gas rules and could push future EPA rulemaking toward stricter controls.

Restore major pollution rules nationwide

This bill would require the EPA to reinstate, within 60 days, all regulations and enforcement programs that were in effect on January 19, 2025 for seven major areas. The list covers power plants, oil and gas methane and VOCs, mercury and air toxics, greenhouse gas reporting, PM2.5 air standards, and vehicle greenhouse gas rules. The bill would also bar the President, the EPA Administrator, or other federal officials from weakening or exempting those reinstated rules unless Congress passes a new law. Households would gain restored air and health protections while regulated companies could face renewed compliance costs that might affect prices or services.

Stronger environmental justice oversight for communities

This bill would require EPA, subject to appropriation, to restore and expand environmental justice programs within 60 days. EPA would prioritize monitoring, permitting oversight, and enforcement in communities with disproportionate pollution burdens. The bill would require public health impact assessments for air and water rulemakings and actions and an annual report on pollution trends, enforcement actions, and progress reducing health disparities.

States keep stronger environmental powers

This bill would say that nothing in the Act limits a State's ability to adopt or enforce environmental standards that are more protective than federal rules. It would also preserve anyone's right to petition EPA to take non‑discretionary action and to bring common‑law nuisance claims. These provisions keep existing state and private legal options intact.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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